Items That Are NOT Recyclable

There’s nothing we like better than adding to the list of items we collect for recycling. But there are some things we simply can’t recycle. Below is a list of items NOT recyclable through our program, but which commonly cause confusion.

After the list is more information on the following items, the ones we’re asked to add most frequently.

Why Can’t We Recycle Styrofoam

The question most frequently asked about the recycling program is, “Do you take Styrofoam?” The simple answer is, “No.” But we sympathize with those who wish we did!Why doesn’t Emmet County Recycling take Styrofoam items?
First of all picture an empty semi trailer. Way down at the far end of the trailer there are three bales of recyclable material, each about the size of a twin bed. Let’s say they’re bales of cardboard so they weigh right around a ton per bale. The rest of the trailer is empty. If we closed that trailer up and drove it 225 miles downstate to recycle just that little bit of cardboard you’d think we were terrible managers wouldn’t you? Why the waste of fuel alone…!

That is, in effect, what we would be doing if we recycled Styrofoam. The things that make Styrofoam items good at keeping food hot and fragile items safe make it inefficient to recycle: it’s roughly 95% air and it’s springy. Even if we compressed it (which on a large scale is very tricky and time consuming) we could only get about three tons to fit on a semi trailer. In contrast, when we ship other recyclables a typical truckload weighs over 20 tons!

But, you might ask, what about landfill space? Well, while Styrofoam items can take up more than their share of a trash bag, they make up less than 1% (by volume) of the garbage going into landfills. The really high volume items are paper products like newspapers, cardboard, and junk mail. And, Styrofoam is inert under landfill conditions, so it doesn’t contribute to pollution when land filled. (We should note, however, that it is not inert when burned. Burning garbage of any kind-but especially plastics-produces smoke laden with high levels of dangerous chemicals. Household burning of plastic garbage in Michigan is illegal.)

Taking the Measure of a RecyclableAs we look at different items in the waste stream and consider which to add to the recyclables we collect, we have to keep in mind many factors. For example, we try to take into account the impact on the environment of making new items from this material, asking whether there are great reductions in energy inputs and pollution produced when recycled stock is used. And what about markets? Are there factories which can use it? Will the sale of the material help cover the costs to collect, store, sort, pack, and transport it?

Also, as discussed above, we have to ask if the material can be collected, sorted, prepared for shipping, and transported in a manner that makes good use of facilities, labor, and fuel. There’s the impact the material has when land filled, too: Does it use huge amounts of landfill space? Is it poisonous and likely to get loose in the environment, like the mercury in fluorescent bulbs?

Styrofoam just doesn’t measure up on any of these counts.

What now?
While it doesn’t make sense for Emmet County to recycle Styrofoam itmes, it can still be frustrating to throw them away. If you don’t like Styrofoam, we recommend asking your favorite grocery stores, restaurants, and mail-order sites/catalogs to consider using alternatives.

Also, if you travel down state regularly, there are a few places you can drop off Styrofoam. Contact the Dart Container Corporation for a list of locations and contact information.

Finally, our thanks to everyone who has called about recycling Styrofoam items. We appreciate your commitment to recycling. We will continue to look into any new Styrofoam recycling opportunities that arise!

Why Can’t We Recycle Construction Paper?

Due to the intensity of the dyes used and the rough quality of the paper, construction paper isn’t recyclable. We also can’t recycle boldly colored office paper, again due to the dyes used.